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06/08/2008
England v Ireland team manager's report
Ireland v England Youth International - 1.8.08
Thursday July 31st
For various reasons the team had been reduced from 14 to 11 boxers, making the total squad number 18, including the three coaches and three referees/judges. All personnel met up as arranged by 19.30 at Liverpool airport for the flight out scheduled for 21.30. After release of the baggage I called a brief meeting to explain the expected behaviour of the whole squad regarding self-discipline, respect, etc and to announce that the chosen Captain was Jazza Dickens.
After a short flight we were met at Dublin airport by Paddy Osborne, Ireland's team manager who had arranged road transport to our student accomodation which was located on the same site as the national stadium.
We arrived at the accommodation, rooms were allocated and the lads had a check weigh before going to bed - no boxers were in danger of not making the weight on the next day.
Friday August 1st
I woke the lads at 7.15 and they had a check weigh at 7.30 and we gathered to the official weigh at the on-site gymnasium where all boxers made the weight. Our boys went back to the rooms to have cereal/toast with orange cordial/tea/coffee and then relax, whilst I confirmed meal times for the rest of the stay.
We had a hot lunch at 13.30, and salad was available at 16.30 for those who wanted it - the site had a chef, Ben, a previous team manager and a real boxing man and his cooking was superb.
We all assembled in kit at 19.15 to walk over to the stadium with the parade at 19.45 and boxing to commence at 20.00.
The Event - all bouts 4 x 2mins - cumulative scores shown below.
Bout 1
48kg Declan Geraghty v Tommy Stubbs
Rd 1 Crafty southpaw Geraghty threw a few left crosses at Tommy who seemed to start slowly but he threw some good straight rights towards the end of the round - it was obvious that good, clean shots were going to count here 6-2
Rd 2 This was an even round with Tommy leading mostly with the slippery Geraghty attempting to counter punch. 8-4
Rd 3 Tommy's aggression and switching paid off to win the round 8-8
Rd 4 Geraghty tried to attack and most of the round involved untidy mauling but an early tight, clean right cross from Tommy secured the round and the decision 8-9
Bout 2
48kg Gary Molloy v Chris Blinkhorn
Rd 1 Chris scores with an early left over the top of Molloy's southpaw stance. The rest of the round sees some untidy mauling and Molloy scores late on with a left 1-1
Rd 2 Chris looks tight and Molloy scores with a good jab to the belly 3-1
Rd 3 Chris lands a good left to the head and later a good right hand - again it is obvious that clean shots will win the bout. 3-3
Rd 4 The round is full of mauling and an early right catches Chris. Molloy starts moving away and becomes difficult to catch and in yet another untidy clinch Chris receives a warning for ducking too low. Molloy catches Chris coming in with two shots towards the end of the round 8-3
Bout 3
51kg Anthony O'Brien v Haroon Khan
Rd 1 Harry sets straight off throwing good, sharp, long shots. He is throwing particularly good right hands, moving off and demonstrating excellent feet. However,he relaxes and stands still later in the round and is caught by two jabs 2-7
Rd 2 O'Brien attacks for most of the round but can't pin down Harry, who has success in jabbing whilst moving off to the right 3-8
Rd 3 O'Brien attacks again and has success with a couple of shots but Harry continues to move off throwing and landing with straight, sharp shots 6-11
Rd 4 Again good feet from Harry moving side to side and both ways throwing good solid hooks and straight shots at speed - good concentration throughout and for me the performance of the event6-18
Bout 4
51kg Michael Stevens v Jazza Dickens
Rd 1 A very cagey start by both boxers, with only a few sharp shots edged by our captain over the very confident local boy Stevens 1-2
Rd 2 Both boxers feeling again, each thinking that one wrong move could lose the contest 2-2
Rd 3 Both lads come out to get a little closer and each seem to land a few shots but no scores from what appear to land early in the round from Jazza 5-3
Rd 4 Too much scrappy play and clinching ruins what should have been a classic 6-4
Bout 5
54kg Bernie McDonagh v John Quigley
Rd 1 John stands off and appears to be starting cagey but picks up with right hooks and straight jabs to the head of McDonagh 0-5
Rd 2 Good lefts and rights again from John and getting more solid. Mcdonagh is really trying but he can't catch our man 0-12
Rd 3 McDonagh comes straight out and lands his first scoring shot.
John responds with great right hooks to the head and displays great feet moving away 1-14
Rd 4 John is attacking and looking for more action and takes a shot but replies with three. He repeats more good lefts to the head then a great body shot downs McDonagh for an eight count - Bernie gets to his feet but his corner show the towel much to his disappointment to give John the only stoppage result of the event.
A good solid performance from JQ and only just joint second best performance of the event for me Ret 4
Bout 6
57kg Tyrone McKenna v Iain Weaver
Rd 1 McKenna, a tall, rangy southpaw is hard to get to but Iain lands a good, solid left early on 1-3
Rd 2 Both landing what appear to be proper shots and looks an even round - Iain's punches not all scoring 8-5
Rd 3 Iain begins to attack and lands two solid lefts and looks like he means business.
Both guys land straight lefts with power 16-10
Rd 4 This round is fought at a slower pace with both boxers throwing solid left crosses but just edged by McKenna 21-14
Bout 7
60kg Ray Moylett v Antonio Counahan
Rd 1 Ant plants several shots well against a strong looking opponent 0-4
Rd 2 Moylett applies pressure for the whole round and Ant tries to counter but his opponent has a very tight defence 4-5
Rd 3 The Irish man is not as forceful but has an even tighter defence. Ant throws even more quality shots but many are blocked 6-7
Rd 4 Moylett is still tight with Ant applying more concentrated pressure and throwing more and quality punches but finding it difficult to score - round even 7-8
Bout 8
60kg Paddy Harkin v Danny Philips
Rd 1 A cagey start by both but Danny throws and lands with good, straight lefts and rights 1-4
Rd 2 This round sees Danny as an example of calmness - he throws sharp shots and commands the centre of the ring 1-9
Rd 3 Danny is planting shots with care and precision and moving feet well 4-12
Rd 4 Hit and move Danny! - no need to mix it but proves to be able to hold his own on that score anyway - a great exhibition and joint secondbest performance of the event for me 4-15
Bout 9
64kg Jamie Kavanagh v Joe Hughes
Rd 1 Joe with a tight stance, bobbing and weaving landed up two good lefts within the first 30 seconds then both boxers fought at close range with Joe taking a silly left in the last seconds of the round 2-4
Rd 2 Joe stopped the bobbing and went in on a straight line to be needlessly picked off at times 7-6
Rd 3 Kavanagh moved craftily with Joe struggling to pin him down and appeared to be sometimes too close or too far way but his fitness paid off to land extra, necessary shots 9-9
Rd 4 Joe still trying hard and appearing to have more success but adjudicated as a draw 11-11 - 22-23 on countback
Bout 10
75kg Matthew O'Sullivan v Kirk Garvey
Rd 1 O'Sullivan is a shorter southpaw and Kirk stands off and tries to pick off his opponent. Few punches are thrown with power or snap but Kirk commands the centre of the ring.
Rd 2 Kirk is calm and lands shots to body and head.
Rd 3 Our man adds pressure with good use of his feet and has success with a number of straight rights to the head.
Rd 4 Kirk moved well avoiding shots and countered to extend his lead against an opponent who never gave up 5-12
Bout 11
75kg Bernard Roe v Ryan Aston
Rd 1 A tactical affair with similar styles edged by Ryan with straight shots 1-2
Rd 2 Sharp and evasive Ryan took two silly, weak shots without reaching with his punches against an awkward opponent 3-2
Rd 3 Not enough work rate by what appears to be the technically superior boxer loses the round 9-5
Rd 4 Ryan left things too late and bursts into action in the last 30 seconds proving his superiority 12-9
Result - IRELAND 4 - ENGLAND 7
Many thanks to my colleagues on this short but memorable journey. Mick Gannon has guided me through my first task as team manager, an honour of which my family and I are extremely proud, having captained and representing the country a few times.
Coaches Mark Kinney and Ron Rowe, referees/judges Terry Smith, "Jumbo" Basi and Geoff Cannell have also helped me with their advice, their humour and the rollercoaster short trip has educated me as well as being enjoyable.
As for the boxers, one could not meet a better bunch of lads - as for the tension they must have witnessed at 17/18 years of age they all portrayed maturity and self-discipline beyond their years. I have already told them that I don't expect to have a nicer squad again - exemplary behaviour.
Synopsis
Though some within our team had 'off night', maybe so did some of their opponents. The team from Ireland haven't changed - or are they even more forceful? Those guys never gave up - they came to compete, were fit, courageous and were extremely tight on defence - we all go back a long way and always we should meet up, compete and be friends. Ireland is a great country and they should be proud of their heritage, respect for people and natural ability to make visitors feel at home in their country. Many thanks for giving us your fantastic hospitality and we look forward to next time.
George Gilbody,
ABAE Team Manager August 2008